Coffs now produces only a fraction of Australian bananas, with most production in far-north Queensland, the Australian Banana Growers Association says.

As well as berries, Coffs-region farmers have diversified into macadamia nuts, cucumbers, and tomatoes.

Third-generation banana grower Michael Singh said there were still a few banana farms in the area, but "you can almost count them on one hand".

Third-generation banana grower Michael Singh said he could count the number of banana growers left in the Coffs region on one hand.Credit:Frank Redward

"There’s good times and bad times - the last couple of seasons, it’s gone from bad to worse," said Michael Singh.

He said "one or two" producers have moved to far north Queensland but have found it hard to adjust.

"We’re pretty lucky here - you get to live on the coast and the other things that come with it. You’re a bit isolated up there."

The NSW director of the Australian Banana Growers’ Council Stephen Spear said it would be difficult for any growers in northern NSW to compete with the sheer scale of production in north Queensland.

The climate at the top end of the country is more conducive to banana production, with crops taking 12 months to harvest instead of 18 months in the Coffs region.

Meanwhile, Gurmesh Singh, the MP, said the Coffs climate was "perfect for growing berries".

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"It’s not so cold that we get frost, but it’s cold enough to get a good chill," he said. "It’s warm enough to ripen the fruit but not hot enough to create other issues."

Mr Spear said a couple of young growers in the Coffs region had moved away from Cavendish bananas, which make up 97 per cent of the market. One had diversified into Lady Fingers and the other into Ducasse.

Kirbal Husna is one local grower who made the switch to berries. After moving from India as a child, he worked on his father's banana farm before they began growing blueberries about eight years ago.

Kirbal Husna has made the switch from bananas to blueberries.Credit:Frank Redward

They still grow some bananas, but he estimates it's only about 10 per cent of the farm's yield.

"A lot of people don’t want to work on a banana farm because they don’t want to work on a hill," he said.

"When they’re picking blueberries, it’s still manual labour but it’s much lighter work. You’re not carrying much weight around and you’re not on the side of a hill."

Bananas remain the highest-selling produce item in the country, with an estimated 96 per cent of households buying them, according to Australian Banana Growers Association.